Display easel



Nov. 6,1945. J. H. .PUERNER ET AL DISPLAY EASEL 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 v Filed June. 5; 1944 R m n w.

J. Hnecuo Fuse/van Nov. 6, 1945.

J. H. PUERNER' ET AL DISPLAY EASEL Filed June 5, 1944 BY M, Mr

INVENIDR. J Hfik040 age Ne:

2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1945 Joseph H.

Puerner, also known as J. Harold Puerner, J elferson; Wis.

Application June 5, 1944, SerialjNo. 538,753

6 Claims.

My invention relates to display easels.

The object of my invention is to provide a display easel for photographs and other card-like articles to be displayed, preferably under glass,

and in which the articles to be displayed can 'be more readily inserted and removed than heretofore.

A further object is to provide an easel of knockdown type in which the parts can be readily assembled or separated and stored, and which will require no screws, auxiliary clamping members, or similar connecting means to hold the parts in their proper relations to each other, the parts being of such interlocking character as to allow them to he slipped into and out of proper relationship handily and quickly.

A still further object is to provide a display easel which will support photographs or other similar articles of various widths and lengths without requiring any time-wasting adjustment or readjustment to adapt the easel to such different purposes. r

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved easel in assembled position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the back brace.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the back brace.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the base plate and standard.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the base portion and associated standard.

Figure 6 is an edge View of the base portion.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the top of the standard.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the extensible top portion of the easel.

Figure 9 is an edge view of said top portion.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

An elongated base plate It) carries a central standard ll midway between its ends, as best shown in Figures 4.- and 5. The standard is of less thickness than the base plate In and is mortised into the rear face of the base plate, as shown in Figure 4. The front side of the base plate has a forwardly offset shouldered mounting l2, the upper surface of which is provided with a longitudinal channel 13 along its junction with the front surface of the plate l0.

A centrally disposed dovetailed groove I4 (Figure 4), extends upwardly in the rear faces of the base plate In and the standard ll substantially along the center line of the easel, and this groove is adapted to receive a counterpart dovetailed projection l5 (Figures 2 and 3) carried by the margin of a suitableback brace H5. The projection l5 may be inserted in the groove M from the bottom of the base plate I0 and pushed upwardly until it strikes the top of the groove.

The pitch of the lower margin of the back brace determines the pitch of the standard I I when the easel is mounted on a table or other horizontal support.

It will be observed in Figure 4 that the dovetailed groove I4 is of greater depth than the thickness of the standard I I, whereby the interlocking projection l5 finds anchorage in the base plate as well as in the standard.

The upper end portion of the standard H has its rear surface provided with a relatively wide dovetailed channel 20 (Figure 7), extending downwardly from its upper margin and adapted to' telescopically receive a counterpart slide 2|, the upper end portion of whichcarries a clamping plate 22 which is preferably of substantially the same length as the base plate It). On its front surface near its'upper margin this plate 22 has a forwardly projecting shoulder 24, the under surface of v which has a channel 25 opposing the mounting channel I3.

The channels I 3 and 25 have suflicient width to receive a glass plate 28 and a photograph or other card'A to be mounted between the glass plate 25 and the standard II, as best indicated in Figure 1.

To mount an article in display position, clamp ing plate 22 with its slide 2| may be wholly or partially withdrawn and the lower margin of the photograph or other card A may then be slipped into the mounting channel l3 and coveerd by a glass plate 28 of corresponding width and length. Thereupon the clamping member and its slide 2| may be moved downwardly to engage the upper margin of the card and the glass plate in the channel 25. The easel will hold cards and glass plates of considerably greater width than the length of either the base plateor the clamping plate, and it will hold cards and glass plates of any length within the range of adjustment determined by the length of the slide 2| and the standard ll.

When not in use, the parts of the easel may be quickly separated by withdrawing the slide 2| with its clamping members 22 and 24, and then lifting the base plate and withdrawing the back brace from below. Thereupon all the parts may be placed one upon another and compactly stored.

When assembled for use, gravity will normally be relied upon to hold the parts in assembly, and either the length of the glass plate 28 or that of the card A may determine the spacing of the clamping plate 22 and the base plate II]. If the adapted to slidingly interlock with the rear portions of the base plate and standard, a top plate having a depending slide adapted for telescopic engagement with the standard. a clamping member secured to the front surface of the top plate and provided with a channel in its under surface in the plane of the mounting channel, anda glass plate engageable in said channels, the'channels being of. sufficient width to also receive the upper and lower margins of the article-to be displayed.

2. A display easel, comprising a base and standard, a brace member adapted to slidingly' interlock with the base. and standard and tomove into interlocking relation from the lower margin of the base, and a clamping member slidingly adjustable on the standard, said baseand clamping member having opposing channels in a common plane of sufllcient width to receive-theupper and lower margins of the article to be displayed, together with a glass covering plate;

3. A display easel. comprising the combination of a base having a horizontally channelled front portion and a rear portion provided with. an undercut channel extendingv at right angles to the first mentioned channel, and a T-shaped top portion having a leg provided with means slidably engaged in the undercut channel whereby said top portion is adjustable to various positions of elevation respecting the base, said top portion being further provided with a head member forwardly offset from said leg and having a horizontal channel in its under surface opposed to the horizontal channel in the base.

4. In a knock-down easel assembly, a base plate provided with a forwardly projecting mounting having a standard mortised into its rear surface, and provided with a dovetailed groove extending upwardly from the lower margin of the base plate along the center line of the standard, said channel being. of greater depthv than the thickness of the standard, and a back brace having a dovetailed portion in sliding fit connection with said groove and normally butted against the upper end thereof.

5; In a knock-down easel assembly, the combination of a base, provided with a forwardly projecting mounting, a plate-like standard, mortised into the central portion of its rear surface, a back brace slidingly interlocked with the lower portions of the standard and base, and a top plate provided with a clamping mounting and a depending member slidingly interlocked with the upper portion. of the standard,said member and back brace each having dovetailed tongue and groove connection with theFstanda'rdand movable into and out of such connection from opposite ends of the standard.

6. A combination picture frame and easel, comprising a base member provided with a transverse channel, a top member provided with a transverse channel, an upright connected with the base member and providedv with a guideway, a slide connected with the top member and reciprocable in the guideway, an easel bracket connected with the upright for maintaining it erect, and a transparent sheet resting in the channel of the base member and engaged in the channel of the top member and comprising means for limiting the approach ofsaid members to each other, the

width of said channels exceeding the thickness of said transparent sheet sufiiciently to enable said channels to receive a display card behind said sheet for display therethrough.

JOSEPH H. PUERNER, Also Known as J. Harold Puerner. 

